A 93-page guide on how to ride a bicycle – including advice on the need to
carry out a risk assessment before removing one's helmet - has been drawn up
for Britain's police forces.

The two-volume tome offers lengthy guidance to constables on skills that most children have mastered by the age of 12, such as how to maintain balance at corners.

It even reminds officers that they must not attempt to detain suspects while in the saddle – or "engaged with the cycle" in the words of its authors.

The Police Cycle Training Doctrine was drawn up by biking enthusiasts in forces across England and Wales and submitted for the approval of the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), but its officials yesterday distanced themselves from the contents.

Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London and a passionate cyclist, led the chorus of derision, saying that while the guide's advice was "very, very sound", it did not represent value for money. Thousands of pounds were reportedly spent putting the full colour publication together.

"I am sure it is of great value, I haven't seen it, but I think you can do this kind of thing much, much more cheaply," Mr Johnson said.

The mayor has already proved himself a master of mobile crime fighting, dismounting from his bike to save a filmmaker from attack by a hooded gang in the capital earlier this month.

Officers from the police's national working group for cycling training, which wrote the book, declined to comment. But independent bike safety experts said there was no need for police to devise their own basic training guide.

"I would like to remind Acpo that the national standard for cycle training covers all the basics of cycling skills and road sense," said Greg Woodford of CTC, the national cyclists' organisation.

"I'd recommend all police cyclists pass their level three [cycling test] and encourage Acpo to work alongside what has already been developed."

Mark Wallace of the TaxPayers' Alliance campaign group added: "This guide is an absurd waste of police time and taxpayers' money. Police officers are perfectly capable of riding a bike."

An Acpo spokesman insisted that the doctrine was never intended to become official policy, and would not be issued to rank-and-file officers.

"This work was neither requested nor drawn up by Acpo and we do not endorse it," she said.

"It was put forward by a group of well-meaning police officers with an interest in this area. Acpo will not be taking it forward."

Rules from the police cycle "doctrine"

Always wear padded shorts to ensure "in-saddle comfort"

Consume sufficient food and "adequate liquids" before setting off

Listen to instructions when cycling in formation. If your leader shouts "Move to double file", move to double file

Undercover officers should carry out a "risk assessment" before removing their helmets

Take care to avoid the kerb during "deployment into a junction" - or turning the corner